New England IPA, a separate style?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by fx20736, Apr 20, 2014.

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  1. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    Was at Fenway yesterday and was drinking Harpoon IPA and Wachussetts Green Monsta. These beer are classified as American IPAs but the ABV is lower and the taste is more balanced than the typical American IPA. They taste more like an English IPA made with American Hops. Are these two beers examples of a separate style, the 'New England IPA'?.
     
    #1 fx20736, Apr 20, 2014
  2. Heady978

    Heady978 Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2013 Massachusetts

    No. Not even close. Look at the list of top beers from new england and you'll get a better idea.
     
    #2 Heady978, Apr 20, 2014
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  3. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    There are (and always were) plenty of IPAs brewed in the UK using American hops.
     
    #3 marquis, Apr 20, 2014
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  4. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Gandhi-Bot. Lunch. Weez / Another One. Fuzzy Baby Ducks.

    Not all New England IPAs are low-ABV / low-IBU. Harpoon is a fine brewery, but I wouldn't look to their regular IPA as a standard-bearer for the region.
     
    #4 Roguer, Apr 20, 2014
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  5. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I obviously neglected Heady Topper, all the APAs, IPAs, and DIPAs from Hill Farmstead, and Lawson's. New England has plenty of awesome, potent, ultra-hoppy, and sought-after IPAs. :grinning:
     
    #5 Roguer, Apr 20, 2014
  6. Flibber

    Flibber Initiate (0) Jul 27, 2013 England

    Isn't that what an American IPA is?
     
    #6 Flibber, Apr 20, 2014
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  7. Flibber

    Flibber Initiate (0) Jul 27, 2013 England

    If I see a beer labelled IPA, barring a few exceptions, I don't expect it to be full of Goldings!
     
    #7 Flibber, Apr 20, 2014
  8. Givemebeer

    Givemebeer Savant (1,219) Apr 6, 2013 Vermont

    They are what IPAs were... Until they kept evolving and becoming hoppier every day
     
    #8 Givemebeer, Apr 20, 2014
  9. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    and Session IPAs arent the exact same thing as an APA.
     
    #9 VncentLIFE, Apr 20, 2014
  10. sagesebas

    sagesebas Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2013 Oregon

    I feel like this couldn't be stated enough. Two distinct styles for sure
     
    #10 sagesebas, Apr 20, 2014
  11. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    I should have said that was sarcasm. They really arent, to be honest. A light bodied less hoppy, lower ABV IPA? by standards that IS and APA. So then Alpha King is a Session IPA. Its lighter bodied, around 5%, and has a strong hop presence.

    The marketing geniuses really got us with the Session IPA thing. Its got people talking about what is essentially a fancy named Pale.

    Now dont get me wrong, I love the beer regardless of the style on the label.
     
    #11 VncentLIFE, Apr 20, 2014
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  12. sagesebas

    sagesebas Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2013 Oregon

    You are probably right to be honest. I might have been overstating because I recently had Stone Go To and it really surprised me and went beyond my expectations
     
    #12 sagesebas, Apr 20, 2014
  13. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    Same for me as well. Loved it. Not sure Id pay 10.99 for a PA. Especially when New Dogtown is 8.99.
     
    #13 VncentLIFE, Apr 20, 2014
  14. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    The last thing we need is another style.
     
    #14 UCLABrewN84, Apr 22, 2014
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